Dear Parents,
Thank you for your interest in JMS! Our mission: The Juneau Montessori School is dedicated to inspiring in each young child a lifelong love of learning by fostering independence and compassion as well as trust, respect, and responsibility to self, others, and the world by implementing the Montessori philosophy and method of education.
Our Toddler Community is designed for twelve children ages 15 months and walking well through 36 months, in a mixed age group. This setting provides a place where children are allowed to explore their own movements and culture by being active participants in activities they see other people doing in the world around them. Everything in this specially prepared environment is designed to meet the specific needs of very young children in terms of the development of spoken language and communication skills, gross and fine motor skills, toilet awareness and independence. The children have the freedom to choose their own activities within this enriching environment.
The children attend the school five days a week as the consistency of coming every day increases the child’s security within the environment with the adults who assist him/her and aid the child in the development of a self-directed and confident learning style.
Parents are asked to consider the time beyond the Toddler Community, in the Primary Classrooms, as a three to four year commitment to their child’s education, since one year’s work builds upon the next in the classroom. The three-year program and age span encourages beneficial social interaction and allows children to develop their skills year by year in the same environment.
Our Teaching Staff
Our teachers are trained professionals all holding AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) diplomas for the level at which they teach. They are mature adults who come from a wide variety of backgrounds. They are truly dedicated to the growth and development of each individual child, and work hard to offer the children a rich and supportive environment for learning. In order to maintain our AMI Accreditation and School Recognition, our Lead Teachers are required to attend AMI and NAMTA (North American Montessori Teachers Association) refresher courses and training on a yearly basis, in addition to continuing education through UAS and AEYC.
Our Support Staff
Our staff members are required to have 20 hours of training in Early Childhood Education every year, and many of our assistants are pursuing their undergraduate degrees or CDA’s (Child Development Associate Degree), and Montessori Assistants training, a 60 hour certificated course. Several members of our support staff have been with us for five or more years, offering consistency and stability to our program.
Parent Involvement
Parents are welcome to observe in the classrooms, and may be asked to share in special skills, professions, or artifacts from the cultural or natural world. Parents are free to let the classroom teachers know what they are willing to share.
Parents must fulfill a minimum four-hour per month volunteer work requirement, or may opt to contribute $40 a month instead. Volunteer opportunities range from fundraising to yard work or grocery shopping.
Our Community
is supportive and friendly, and families find being a part of Juneau Montessori School to be an enriching experience for everyone.
Our School Calendar
follows very closely the public school calendar with regard to school closures and in-service days.
The flow of the day is dictated by the needs of the children. Some days more time is needed for gross motor activities, some days more time may be necessary for outside explorations. We “follow the children” as much as we are able, being flexible with regard to time.
To help you decide if this is the best match for your child and your family, we recommend that you take some time to become acquainted with our program. If you are interested in learning about our program or enrolling your child, please follow the enrollment procedure found by clicking here.
We are glad that you are considering Montessori Education for your child! We will be happy to answer any questions you may have about Montessori or our School.
Sincerely,
Sharlyn Smith
School Director